I met a non lawyer today who regularly appears before the DARAB, an administrative board, as counsel for the farmer beneficiaries. He came to the office to have several pleadings notarized and I immediately observed the defective verification attached to the pleadings on appeal. Instead of the valid IDs of the parties, meaning government issued, he indicated IDs issued by their own private farmer's association. I brought the matter to his attention, that his pleadings would eventually be denied on mere technicality as improper verification, and therefore all his efforts at representing the parties would be futile and dismissed outright, which is a sad thing.
I must have embarrassed him by pointing out the issue in front of his 'clients', but I tried my hardest to explain it to him in a way that didn't humiliate him or put to question his credibility to handle the cases. I'm glad he listened. I made him come back and change the verification page, gather the valid IDs so that I could notarize the papers. I also reminded him to observe this strict procedural requirement from now on and not to take the same for granted.
All said, I must say I am happy there are people like him. He takes on these cases at minimal to no fees at all, and he seems passionate about it. I learned he had won several cases at the administrative level, and his fellow farmers look up to him to defend them in the midst of agrarian disputes, nay, disputes that spell life or death (because, really, land is their only treasure and source of livelihood.)
It's the weekend again.
Saturday, I shall make biko to share to the neighbors. :)
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